Supreme Court to Review IQ Cutoff for Executions

Case Involves Florida Murder of Pregnant Woman

By

Jess Bravin

Oct. 21, 2013 6:28 p.m. ET

WASHINGTON—The U.S. Supreme Court, which in 2002 found it unconstitutional to execute mentally retarded convicts, said Monday it will review IQ thresholds that some states use when deciding whether a prisoner can be put to death.

The high court, in taking up the appeal of a Florida inmate, will determine whether the state's IQ standard complies with the Constitution. Florida is one of several states that use an inflexible IQ limit in...